The Urban Ruins Projects NPO offers people a chance to grow their own oyster mushrooms. According to Clayton Viljoen, the NPO’s founder, this initiative aims to teach the participants the art and science behind cultivating these nutritious and flavourful fungi.
“People generally think all mushrooms except button mushrooms are poisonous, but that’s not true. Oyster mushrooms, in particular, are safe to eat and classified as a superfood.
“Packed with essential nutrients, oyster mushrooms are more than a tasty meal addition. One cup of them is just 28 calories, yet they are rich in vitamins like B3, B6 and B9, and minerals like iron and potassium,” Viljoen explained.
He said oyster mushrooms offer a range of health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, improving heart health and supporting the immune system.
“There’s even ongoing research into their cancer-fighting properties,” he noted.
Urban Ruins has cultivated oyster mushrooms for nearly a year, using an eco-friendly approach by growing them in reusable plastic buckets.
“We decided to avoid plastic bags altogether. Our mushrooms grow in buckets with holes, which we sterilise and reuse, cutting down on plastic waste.”
To share their expertise, Urban Ruins developed a hands-on course.
“We cover the basic theory of mushroom growing, show participants the growth cycle and even share recipes,” Viljoen said.
“The workshop includes a tour of Urban Ruins’ mushroom facility, where participants can see the growing process in action. At the end of the workshop, everyone gets to prepare and inoculate their bucket to take home.
“No fancy equipment is required to grow oyster mushrooms at home. You can get away with very little. We show you how to create the ideal growing conditions using simple, self-made tools.”
The workshops will be on October 26 and November 16 and 30 from 09:00 to 13:00. For R450 per person, participants will enjoy a light lunch featuring delicious oyster mushroom dishes and take home an inoculated bucket.
Proceeds from the workshops will help cover Urban Ruins’ operational costs.
“We’re not just teaching people how to grow their own food; we’re helping sustain our organisation and community.”
To book a workshop, call Viljoen on 081 747 0833 or Dave Davis on 081 052 5713.
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